Harry & Meghan Hope for ‘a Foot Back’ in the UK to Avoid an ‘Awkward’ Question From Archie & Lilibet
Royal expert Ingrid Seward claims Harry and Meghan's reunion with Charles in the UK was driven by concerns about Archie and Lilibet's future.
After six years of estrangement, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle finally reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House earlier this month. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet also met their grandfather in the UK for the first time in four years. While royal watchers welcomed the apparent thaw in their relationship, royal expert Ingrid Seward claims the Sussexes were actively seeking a path back to royal life to avoid awkward questions from their children about their future and heritage.
Speaking to The Sun, Seward believed Harry and Markle's July trip to Britain proved that they were trying to mend fences with the royals for an ulterior motive. She said, "First of all, I think the Sussexes do want a foot back in the door, for the sake of their children and their children's futures." Stressing how Archie and Lilibet could be "really annoyed" with their parents when they grow up, she added, "They [Archie and Lilibet] could ask 'why haven't you introduced me to my other life, my cousins, my heritage,' and I think that would be an awkward one for Harry and Meghan to explain."
Seward suggested that Markle, in particular, may have realized she needed the "royal gold dust" to repair her image in the UK. "Her [Markle's] popularity is shattered – of course there will always be the Meghan superfans – but largely she is seen as somebody who breaks ties with her own family, and she is seen as splitting Harry and the children from their family too." According to Seward, since some Americans also love the royal family, winning their approval would help Markle boost her popularity.
Weighing in on the reunion, Seward revealed that Charles deeply missed his US-based grandchildren and would love to spend more time with them. She stressed, "Because of the King's age, I think Charles himself will want to spend time with his grandchildren. Though, given his schedule, I think the only chance he will get to spend time with them [Archie and Lilibet] is during the annual summer trip to Scotland for the long Balmoral break." Looking ahead, she believed the King would encourage his son to visit with his children more often by assuring Harry about his security concerns.
Although the Duke's relationship with his father has shown improvement, Seward concluded that the same could not be said for his bond with Prince William. She suggested that perhaps one day, Harry might want Archie and Lilibet to be educated in Britain. "Harry and Meghan have a residence in Portugal too, so it makes it much easier for them to fly here and back rather than the long journey to LA."
